Refrigerated case



Feb. 9 [1926. 5 1,572,855

A E. OTTENHEMER REFRIGERATED CASE Z Fiied Jan. 51, 1925 2 sheets-sheet 1 "2524- Feb 9', 1926. J

I R. E. OTTENHEIMER REFRIGERTED CASE Filed Jan. 3l 1925 2 SheetS-She' 2 Patented Feb. 9i, 1926.

UNITEDV STATES REUBEN E. OTTENHEIMEB, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

REFRIGERATED CASE. l l

Application led January siding at Baltimore. in the State of Maryland. have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Refrlgerated Cases, of

which the following is a specicatioin f This invention relates to refrigerators and particularly to a refrigerated show-case provided with means for illuminating its in terior. i

Illumination of refrigerated show-cases is a diicultproblem for the reason that the heating effect of the lamps must beV minimized.v Satisfactory illumination cannot be had from lamps located outside the case, and so far as I am advised no satisfactory way of using them within the case has been devised. The presentinvention solvesthis problem by the co-ordination of a number of special features, certain of which are not novel in themselves, in such manner that in conjunction they produce a new and better result.

Generally stated, I locate the lamps in a portion of the frame structure of the case at the top where they are completelyv housed and may readily be concealed from the customer. Though they are then in effect within the case, they are isolated from the interiorof the case by a glass panel through which their light `is projected. The heat given olf by the lamps is largely dissipated b v convection through vent ports formed in the top of the lamp-housing structure.

The glass panel below the lamps serves to reduce the transmission of heat, but alone is notalways adequate to effect this result. K4fccordinggly I so locate the lamps and so arrange certain screens or batlles that the circulation 4of ai'r within the refrigerator I does not pass close to this glass panel. Stated diiferently, I maintain immediately below the panel a layer of inert or non-circulating air which serves effectually to retard the transfer of heat, and which, as it becomesheated, inherently seeks a position in the top of the case outside the path of circulation within the case. Whenever the case is open for service there is an opportunity for part or all of this heated a1r` to escape; and this assists in dissipating the heat of the lamps and reducing their heating action within the case.

The advantages lof the invention may be secured with structures differing somewhat si, 1925. serial mL 6.151.

in detail, but the best embodiment of it known to lne is illustrated in the accompanying drawings` in which-v Fig. l is a. vertical transverse section through a refrigerated show-case embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 i

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the complete case:

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sect-ion through the upper portion ofthe case;

Fig. is a transverse section showing the construction of the combinedbaiile and-display sign. l

In the drawings certain structural de.- tails, such as parts of the framing and insulation of the body of the show-case, are omitted to simplify the drawings. Any of the knownv body structures may be used.

The refrigerated show-cassis supported by anyvsuitable means such as the base 11. Its bottom consists of a water-tight insulated v body portion 1:2 whose form is shown in the drawings, and whose exact 'construction is not material to the invention. Ordinarily it would be constructed of wood with the usual insulation, and would be internally lined with some non-corrosive metal, as is familiar to those skilled in the art. The floor of the body port-ionolz?. slopes forward to a drain 13. of ordinary form which is protected by a screen 14.`

The body portion 12 is higher at its rear than at its front, and is sub-divided into a display space anda space to house the refrigerating means b v avertical partition 15 and a forwardly sloping. but a proximately ho"izontal, shelf 16. The vertical partition 15 is located about two thirds of the distance from the front to the back of the ease. It extends the entire length of the case,Y but is spaced from the top and bottom thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, to permit air circulation rearward over it and forward beneath it. Y i

A 'flange 17 carried by the partition 15 serves to support the shelf 16 at its rear end. This shelf rests at its forward end on an angle strip 18. 'The shelf 16 is preferably` upstanding, rearwardly inclined baille 19.

This preferably partly overhangs a series of air ports 20 formed in the shelf 16 along the front of the show-case. The openings might be otherwise located, but I prefer the location shown.

The exact construction of the shelf is not' a feature ofthe present invention, but I have chosen for illustration a type of shelf described and claimed in my companion application Ser. No. 6,150, filed January 31,

rear support for a display case of approximately triangular cross section. This includes two longitudinal top rails 22 and 23 spaced apart to receive the light equipment between them. They are bridged at the top by an overlying strip of marble, translucent or opaque glass, or the like, 24, retained'byclamp strips 25. When translucent material Iis used articles placed thereon may be illuminated. The member 23 is recessed on its top face to form long narrow slotsA 26 which serve to ventilate the lamp space between the rails 22 and 23. A series of l'clips or cross members 27` extending between the lower faces of the rails 22 and 23 carry a glass panel 28 which isolates .the lamp space between the rails 22 and-.23""from the interiorV of the show-case. Ordinary incandescent lamps lighted in the usual manner are-,shown lThe front of the show-case is made upof glass panels double glazed, as indicated at 30. 31. lThese panels are held between moldstrips 32 on the body portion d12 and on the front rail 22, and also by inclined rabbeted frame members 33 which connect the front rail 221with the front of the body por;

f tion 12. The rear-of the display case portion is closed by a series of single glazed sliding sash 34, 35. These slide on separate parallel tracks or grooves 36, 37, and overlap each other slightly at their ends'when closed, as is usual. Between thev rail 21 and the rear of the body porti-on 12 there are f hinged doors 38 which may be opened to v function is the one of primaryv importance,

, but since its location is suitable for a sign embody these features in it.

and for the illumination thereof, I prefer to The baille, therefore, consists of a frame member 39 ar- 'ranged to permit the passage of light, and

having a fixed channel member 40 at its top and a swinging channel-like, sign-retaining member 41v atfits, bottom. The member 41 is mounted on a spring hinge 42 which normall retain'svit iniits upward or sign-supporting position. v

The sign 43 consists of an imperforatc strip and therefore acts as an effective baille. This strip preferably is translucent `and carries letters or characters formed in opaque material, but any other arrangement may be used provided the-characters are rendered visible by the lamps 29. The signs 43 are insertedby vdrawing down the spring-held member 41, inserting the upper edge in the channel 40, and then releasing the springurged member 41 so that it swings up and engages the lower edge of the sign.

The ends of the di lay portion of the case are closed by y g ass panels, double glazed, as indicated at 44, 45. In an illuminated case transparent end panels are satisfactory, but they are objectionable in an unilluminated case because of the effects of cross lights.' Hence where the case is to be lighted only part of the time, the interior end panel may to advantage be silvered' so as to act as a light reflector and shut off cross lights which would enter through the ends. The double glazing is an important factor in effective insulation.

price tickets on the forwar face of the baille, and this possibility is useful and attractive commercially.

This being the general construction of the case, it is important to note the preferred relation ofthe parts, for this has much to do with securing the best results. The front panels are quite sharply inclined to the rear, and togetherwith the rear sliding doors con,- Afine a narrow inert air zone which extends well `above the path ofair circulation. The circulating airl rises through the ports 20, is deflected to the rear by the baille 19, and 'passes into the refrigerating space through the slot-like port 'between the top of the partition 15 and the bottom of the rail 2l. This current, flowing 'rearwardly across the case, would have atendency to cause a secondary circulation or eddy. in theair in the top of the case, and I,if such circulation occurred, a certain amount of the air heated by the l lamps 29 would mix with the air circulating through the shelf and downward through the refrigerating space and thus raise the temperature in 'the bottom portion of the case. The baille formed bythe sign 43, however, has the effect lof checking any eddy flow, and preserves in the top or apex portion of the case a practically inert body of air which absorbs most of the heat radiating into the case from the lamps, and prevents v its lconvection into the cold air at the lower Port-i011 Of the case. Even if the air in the It is'possible to place dis lay signs or edge by said frame structure; artificial lighttop of the case should vbecome quite highly heated, much of it would escape-whenever the doors 3-t, 35 are opened, as they are whenever sales are made.

Another effect performed primarily by the bathe 19, but assisted in some degree by the baliiing effect of the sign 43, is the preservation adjacent the inner glass panel 31 ofa non-circulating or inert body of air. For this reason the glass panels 30-and 31 are not as cold as they ,would ot-herwise be. and condensation on the outside of the glass occurs to a far less extentthan with cases lacking these battles.

The location of the lamps in a narrow pocket at the apex of the case is desirable, both as minimizing the heating etect of the lamps and as oliering a position favorable to the very best illumination. Everything on the shelf 16j-s illuminated. The sign baille 43 is also illuminated and shades the interior surface of the glass panel 31. This reduces reflection and refraction elects which would tend to produce ghosts and reduce the visibility through the glass from certain angles.

`4In short, the various details of the case are so designed and co-ordinated as to secure uniform illumination from a concealed source. effective arrest and dissipation of heat from said source, and sustained visibility through the transparent walls of the display case. With these major features are colnbined effectively placed and brightly illuminated signs which are lso combined with the necessary ballies that they never interfere with the desired air circulation.

lVhat is claimed is: 1. The combination of a display case Vhaving a wide bottom,a top defined bya narrow frame structure, and an 'inclined transpalrentiront sustained at lts upper ing means concealed within the top of said frame structure; and refrigerating means arranged to exert a localized refrigerating effect in the lower portion of said case.

2. The combination of a displayY case having a wide bottom. ya top defined 'by a narrow frame structure, and an pninclined transparent front sustained at `its upper edge by said frame member; artificial lighting means 'concealed withiny said frame Structure; a shelf for displaying goods in the lower portion of said case; refrigerat-- mg means including a ballie arranged to cause a current of cool air to circulate beneath and closely over said shelf; and a. baille adjacent'said lighting means arranged to obstruct air circulation immediately beneath said lighting means.

3. The combination of a display case;

means for displaying goods near the bottom of said case; refrigerating means for cooling the goods displayed; artificial lighting means housed in the top of said case and arranged to illuminate the goods displayed; and a baiile mounted in the top of said case beneath said lights, and rving to maintain there an inert body of relatively warm air.

4;. The combination of a. display case having a wide bottom, a tp defined by a narrow framestructure. and an inclined transparentfront sustained at its upper edge by said frame member; artificial lighting means concealed?l within said frame structure; a translucent partition retarding the flow of heat from said lighting means to the lower portionof said case; and refrigerating means operative in the lower portion of said case.

5. The combination of a display case having a wide bottom. a narrow top and an inclined transparent front panel; artificial lighting means mounted `in said narrow top; a translucent partition forretarding the flow of yheat from the lighting means to the lower portion of the case; a bale extending downward from said partition to preserve a body of inertair adjacent thereto; and refrigerating means arranged to produce a' circulation of cold air in said case.

6. The combination of a display case having a wide bottom, a narrow top and an inclined transparent front panel; artificial illuminating means mounted in said narrow 'topg acombined sign `and batlie located be-Y neath said illuminating means in position to be lighter thereby and to maintain a body of non-circulating air immediately beneath the illuminating means; and refrigerating means arranged to produce a circulation of cold air in the lower port-ion of said case.

T. The combination of a display case having a wide bottom, closely spaced top frame members. and an inclined transparent front panel supported at its top edge by said frame structure; artificial lighting means mounted between said-top frame members; a. glass panel underlying said lighting means; means for venting heated air from the space above said underlying panel; a. baille beneath and adjacent said underlying panel and serving to retain a. body of inert air adjacent thereto; refrigerating means serving to produce an lair circulation in the lower portion of said case; and a baille serving to directsaid circulation away from said front panel. l

8. ',lhe combination of a. .display case having a transparent front; artificial lighting means mounted adjacent the upper edge of said transparent front adapted to illuminate the interior of said case; refrigerating means serving to produce an air circulation k circulation adjacent said 'lighting means,

and to shade said transparent front panel from light transmitted directly from said artificial lighting means.

9. The combination of a display case;v artificial lighting means' mounted '1in-:the top of said case; a translucent panel mounted Within `said case" and isolating said` lighting means from the main-interior portion of said case; Ventilating means .for discharging heated air from said lighting means; and refrigerating means serving to produce an air circulation in said case.

10. The combination of a display casey having at least one transparent 'vv-all, of

refrigerating means associatedl with said casel and so arranged as toinduce'convection cooling currents in the air contained in said case; illuminating means at the top of .the case isolated from the interior thereof by a translucent partition; and means serving to control the .flow of said convection currents and minimize such flow adjacent said transparent wall and said translucent partition.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this s cification. l

REUB N E. OTTENHEIMER. 

